Category Archives: Business News

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) announced that the 31st annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award will be presented to Paul L. Dowen, CPA and managing partner of Whittemore, Dowen and Ricciardelli LLP in Queensbury.
The award will be presented at the ARCC annual dinner on Friday, March 6, at the Sagamore Resort, 110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing.
A cocktail hour runs 6-7 p.m., followed by dinner and a program 7-11 p.m.
Dowen grew up in Saratoga Springs and made his way up to the Glens Falls region in 1976, attending Adirondack Community College (now SUNY Adirondack). Upon his graduation from Castleton State College (now Castleton University) in 1980, he returned to Glens Falls and started his accounting career with the CPA firm of Silverstein and Loftus.
Dowen started his own firm in 1987 and has been in partnership with Phillip Whittemore, as well as other partners, since 1994. His long-standing partnership with Phillip Whittemore merged with Edwards, Williams, McManus & Ricciardelli to form Whittemore, Dowen & Ricciardelli in April of 2006.

by Andrea Palmer
April Fresh Cleaning celebrated 20 years in business this year by expanding its services into carpet and floor cleaning, as well as mold, water, fire and smoke damage mitigation.
The company serves clients in Saratoga, Queensbury and Latham. The company is also seeking to open an office in Queensbury.
April Fresh Cleaning specializes in commercial janitorial services, commercial and residential floor cleaning and upholstery cleaning.
April Fresh Cleaning recently purchased a new Butler carpet cleaner. The van-powered system allows them to clean carpet, upholstery, tile and grout, and other stone flooring. They recently finished the certification classes for water, mold, fire and smoke remediation.

By Christine Graf
Matt and Rebecca O’Hara, owners of Freedom Boat Club in Lake George, are seeking final approval to construct a private hospitality room for their members at the Queen Boat Co. (formerly the Dunham’s Bay Boat Co.) their marina on Lake George.
The O’Haras opened their boat club franchise after relocating to the area in 2016. In October of last year, they purchased what was Dunham’s Bay Boat Co. Their proposed hospitality room will be located in an existing building within marina.
Matt O’Hara said the proposed hospitality room would provide members with a place to socialize when they aren’t out on the lake. He also envisions the space being used to conduct trainings and safe-boating classes. Food and alcohol will not be served in the hospitality room.

By Rachel Phillips
After over a year of vacancy, the building that was once Dango’s Dugout in South Glens Falls is under new ownership.
The building at 43 Main St. was purchased by James Atherton of Atherton Painting and Renovations. He said he put in an offer in the spring, and it was finally accepted in September. Pending approval from the Village of South Glens Falls, he plans to gut the restaurant and convert the building into apartments.
In addition to the restaurant portion, the building contained nine apartments. Atherton has already gutted and renovated the units, including painting, and adding new carpeting and floors, he said. Each unit has one bedroom and one bathroom.
Atherton also intends to repaint the exterior and fix the sidewalks and blacktop.

By Jill Nagy
“Our food is so good, it doesn’t matter if you’re vegan,” said Tania Sharlow, owner of Birch Bark Eatery, a vegan restaurant that, after just a year in business, recently moved to a new and larger location at 21 Ridge St. in Glens Falls.
The new location is five times as big as the previous site on Route 9 in Queensbury, giving Sharlow and her crew more work space and room to seat up to 60 people. She also expanded her workforce from four to 10 people.
The new location was formerly home to Cornerstone Pizza Café.
The site did not require much renovation, mainly painting and some upgrading in the kitchen, she said.
She now offers an expanded menu, including pizza.